How to pitch a book to agents:
Client pitched her nonfiction book idea to 10 agents via a query letter.
24 hours passes.
First two agents said No.
A few more days pass.
Third agent said, I’d like to see your proposal.
A bit after receiving the proposal, he said, Your book proposal is phenomenal as is your book idea. I’m not your best choice for an agent, but I believe in you and your work. Come back if you don’t get your first choice agent.
A week more passes.
I recommend two more agents to my client. Client pitches them that same day.
One of the agents expresses interest and asks a question about the # of books client would want to order.
Three days pass.
Agent offers representation. She’s excited about the book idea, the client, and what the book will mean to readers.
All this happened within the first month of pitching.
Client is waiting on a few more agents to respond, and will make her final decision on who she will work with at the end of September.
First, to get the message from agent #3, after the two no’s, is amazing. Agents rarely, if ever, send a personal note like the one he wrote to her.
Second, that she received an offer of representation in just a few weeks is also unusual and wonderful for her. She and the agent have spoken and it could be that they work together.
Next steps: Client picks agent, and then her agent will pitch to the big publishers in NYC, and our fingers are crossed that one will pick her up for publication.
Are you ready to pitch your book idea to agents?